Viewers are already comparing new BBC thriller Informer to Bodyguard

New BBC thriller Informer kicked off on Tuesday night, and its already proving a hit with some fans, who are comparing it to Jed Mercurio's water-cooler smash Bodyguard.

• Meet the cast of BBC1 thriller Informer
• Where is Informer filmed in London?
• BBC thriller Informer won't "glamorise" fight against terror in London say filmmakers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgFHRg32QOs

The six-part series follows Raza (Nabhaan Rizwan), who's recruited by Gabe (Paddy Considine) as an undercover informant for the British counter-terrorism police. Like Bodyguard, which became the BBC's most popular drama in ten years during its run earlier this autumn, it seems to have enthused, perplexed and frustrated viewers in equal measure in its first episode – could this be the winning formula for a hit series nowadays?

While not everyone loved the show – some found it too confusing, owing to a myriad of bit-part characters – more than a few felt it bore similarities to Mercurio's latest series, and that it may even be... better.

"Strong opening episode of Informer I thought," Nick Mitchell wrote on Twitter. "As gritty as could be expected for BBC One drama. Nabhaan Rizwaan looks remarkably assured for his TV debut alongside the always great Paddy Considine. Already better than Bodyguard?"

George Smiley added: "Just watched Informer on BBC1 - at last a programme that's been researched and advised properly to give it credence and already better than Bodyguard. The brilliant Paddy Considine gives it gravitas and Nabhaan Rizwaan superb in his debut on TV."

Check out some more Bodyguard-related praise for Informer below.

https://twitter.com/GeorgeSmileyOBE/status/1052307295080574976

https://twitter.com/NickMitchell/status/1052305006878183425

https://twitter.com/skyebenson/status/1052304219343134722

https://twitter.com/wastednwoundedx/status/1052303706237128705

https://twitter.com/catmacmartin/status/1052296846545047552

https://twitter.com/sdoddsy/status/1052297014401150977

However, not everyone was able to get on board after episode one, citing unrealistic and confusing plotlines and an overstuffed cast.

"36 mins into Informer & I'm still no wiser to wtf is going on or who anybody is," @The_Evil_Barbie wrote. "If it doesn't get less bitty & scattered soon, I"m not sure I can be arsed to stick with the rest of the program, let alone watch another episode."

https://twitter.com/The_Evil_Barbie/status/1052297934275059714

https://twitter.com/Cakeyholey/status/1052305793431851009

https://twitter.com/RAINBOWBLAK/status/1052304360833736704

https://twitter.com/sumairajade/status/1052303708262871040